Hiking and Walking.

Before the end of the Holiday break we spent a good amount of time together outdoors. Me, my boys, my Mom, Julia, Isabelle, Luke, and Abby hiked around Camels Back. We all had a great time running around the trails in the sunshine.

The good times continued on the playground, until Angus fell weird, kinked his neck and passed out. It was freaky, rolling eyes, contorted face and hand, no response. It freaked us out enough that we called the paramedics. Luckily within a short time he was completely fine. It seems like every year of his life he has had some odd neck kink or head smack. He is a pretty tough kid, and keeps on going shortly after being hurt. But there have been a few scares. When he was one he fell and hit the back of his head on the hard wood floor, near blackout and eye rolling. When he was two he jumped funky on the trampoline on Christmas day and had nearly the same response as he did at Camels back park. We are just happy they are not serious and that he is okay. Crazy kid!

Around New Years we took a brisk walk through the new nature park near Bown Crossing. It was beautiful, and really cold. And there was lots of goose turds along the path. Bryan was there too, I thought I should mention that since there is no proof in the pics.

We also hiked Castle Rock earlier in the week and also checked out the Penitentiary. It is good to be together.

Sam Is An Eagle Scout

My brother Sam received his Eagle Scout this evening. It was nice to be there with family and friends in support of Sam, who we love SOO much. He is the greatest, and we were happy to celebrate and support his achievement with him. Here are some pictures from the evening. Thanks again J-bone for being photographer.

 

 

 

  

Julia's Thailand Farewell Dinner

Julia is heading back to Thailand this coming Saturday. So most of us were able to get together for a bit this evening. We ate salads, burgers (with the traditional Grandma's Goop), salmon, and WAY too many helpings of black bottom pie. All of it tasted SO good.

We did a little photo shoot before everyone went home. I love my family. I really, really, really do. How lucky we are to have on another. We will miss you Lula!

The Gang!

(we are missing Tag's three awesome kiddos)

Us five kids.

Gosh these people are great.

Here we are trying to spell Julia's name.

Backwards, apparently.

This was my idea...and it was a dumb one.

However we do look awesomely idiotic,

so maybe it was a good idea after all.

Weirdness.

Easter 2011

 

We ate. It was delicious! The company was fantastic.

Let the hunt begin!

I could not resist how sweet these pictures of Angus are. He was a serious egg hunter.

 

Bryan doing some sort of potty dance? The excitement of the egg hunt must have been too much for him.

Here I am checking out the action...

and here I am getting in on the hunting action. I even found something extra special. Lucky me!

Sweet Oscar boy, you are getting so big. This kid filled his bag to the brim, but I am pretty sure his favorite part of the day was wrestling with cousins on the trampoline.

 

Here's Bry, with the two women in his life. We were so glad Grammie joined us for the fun.

 

 It was a happy Easter for us. I hope it was happy for you too. 

(A special thanks to Jeremy for taking all the pictures. My camera bites compared to his.)



Oregon Trip: Part Two

Here are a few more pictures from our Oregon adventure. We really did have a lot of fun!

We all went crabbing together. Which was cool, and stinky. Have you ever been crabbing? Holy cow, the bait that is tied to the middle of the crab cage is putrid. Real "knock you out" sort of smelly stuff. However, listening to the kids giggle and shriek while watching the crabs scurry across the dock was worth it. Most of us wimped out after a couple hours, but Bryan, my Dad and Mom, Sam, and JR  stayed there crabbing for a few hours longer. They loved it! They (minus my Mom) even went to a local spot afterwards to harvest muscles (like the ones you eat) off of rocks. I think they enjoyed finding the muscles more than eating them. Muscles are pretty nasty to eat, if you ask me.

Here are some more pictures. The third and final spring break installment is coming soon,



Better than a restaurant.

Tonight I spent the evening with my Mom and Dad...and 12 high schoolers. It was my little brother Sam's homecoming dance, and my Mom made the 4 course meal for his group. I left my boys together at home, and went over to help. It was so incredibly pleasant. Spending the evening hanging out with, and helping my parents in the comfort of my childhood home was really peaceful and re-energizing.

My Mom is a natural in the kitchen, and made a delicious-better than a restaurant- meal. My Dad and I were the "waiters," and it was really quite enjoyable to serve the guests together. I love being with my parents, and we had a great time talking, doing dishes, listening to the group laugh, eating, cleaning up, etc.

The temperature this evening was perfect for eating outside. The lights on the trellis were glowing, the candlelight on the table was twinkling, and the crickets were playing beautifully. While the group finished up their dessert, my parents and I sat together in the dark of the no-longer-summer, but not-yet-fall-ish evening and ate homemade summer berry crunch. It was like I was on a date with my parents, and it was wonderful. Thanks Mom and Dad.

Btw, Sammy you looked SO dapper tonight, and your friends were all so gracious. I hope you had a great night too.

The nature around us.

Lately I have been so impressed by the nature around me. Yep, I mean the nature right outside my back (or front) door. I feel very lucky that we don't have to travel far to enjoy some of the simplicities that our earth has to offer.

Here are a few of our recent favorites (in no particular order):

The Western Tanager. Gorgeous, gorgeous birds, and they are everywhere! At any time throughout the day I can look out our various windows and spot some flying around. They are like our own "tropical" bird.




Sun, glorious sun. Although we have not had as much of it this May, I relish in it when it shines in through our windows.

The fragrance of the blossoming honeysuckle vine & the hummingbirds that drink the nectar from it. Their hum sounds like the faint jingling of a small high pitched bell. They are welcome here.

Lush green trees with varying hues of bark, contrasted against the grey and stormy morning sky. Breathtaking.

All the green growing in my garden.


Tons of fresh, beautiful eggs.
Pushing the boys on the tire swing in the front yard on a spring afternoon.

The sticky satisfaction that popsicles bring to my boys, and seeing them enjoy together.
Birds singing. It is a constant. All day long, rain or shine. It's like a built in soundtrack to our day, but it sounds far more beautiful than any song I have heard on the radio.

Playing in the puddles at our house. Sometimes with rain boots, but more often without. Bare feet are the coolest.

Our view, even though it's a small view, of Table Rock.


The front porch. I love it so much I will write it again. The front porch.

What are you enjoying in the nature around you???

Grateful.

I am thankful for a lot this year.

Our health, our home, our safety, Bryan's employment.

But mostly...

I am grateful for the time I have been given with the ones I love.

Because without them, none of the rest of it seems to matter as much.